# In the Footsteps of Darwin

In the Footsteps of Darwin is a board game for 2–5 players. It plays in 20–30 minutes and is meant for ages 8 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 3. It is rated 7.8 out of 10 by 26 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $38.24 (United States).

- **Players:** 2–5 (best with 3)
- **Playing time:** 20–30 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 8+
- **Complexity:** 1.7 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2023
- **Categories:** Animals, Educational, Nautical
- **Mechanics:** Rondel, End Game Bonuses, Open Drafting, Tile Placement, Grid Coverage, Layering, Pattern Building, Square Grid
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.8 out of 10, from 26 reviews
- **Owned by:** 70 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 391
- **Unique players:** 361

**Designers:** Matthieu Verdier, Grégory Grard

**Artists:** David Sitbon, Maud Briand

**Publishers:** Sorry We Are French

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Atomic Empire | 38.24 $ | https://www.atomicempire.com/Item/332374 |
| Miniature Market | 39.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin-swadar-r01.html |
| Gamers Guild AZ | 44.99 $ | https://gamersguildaz.com/products/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin |
| Cardhaus Games | 44.99 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin/ |
| Rampi Games | 26.03 € | https://www.rampigames.com/juego-de-mesa/tras-los-pasos-de-darwin/ |
| 401 Games | 44.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin |
| Mathom | 31.46 € | https://mathom.es/es/otros-juegos-de-tablero/56912-tras-los-pasos-de-darwin-8425402886106.html |
| Good Games | 44.9 $ | https://www.goodgames.com.au/products/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin |
| Juegos de la Mesa Redonda | 31.46 € | https://juegosdelamesaredonda.com/17235-tras-los-pasos-de-darwin-8425402886106.html |
| Zatu Games | 27.99 £ | https://zatu.com/products/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin |
| Philibert | 33.9 € | https://philibertnet.com/fr/sorry-we-are-french/122760-sur-les-traces-de-darwin-3616450010314.html |
| Magia de Tinta | 33.95 € | https://www.magiadetinta.com/es/juegos/8312-tras-los-pasos-de-darwin-8425402886106.html |
| World of Board Games | 389 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin |
| Travelling Man | 30 £ | https://travellingman.com/products/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin |
| Ludifolie | 34.9 € | https://www.ludifolie.com/16289-sur-les-traces-de-darwin.html |
| Curiosity Shop | 34.95 € | https://www.thecuriosityshop.es/products/tras-los-pasos-de-darwin |
| Get Your Fun | 35 € | https://www.getyourfun.it/030577-sulle-orme-di-darwin-giochi-per-famiglia.html |
| Nordisk Spil | 279 kr | https://nordiskspil.dk/products/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin |
| Alphaspel | 429 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/228252-in-the-footsteps-of-darwin |
| Spelexperten | 429 kr | https://www.spelexperten.com/sallskapsspel/familjespel/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin.html |
| Fantasiapelit | 38.4 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_226410 |
| Pelipeikko | 39.95 € | https://pelipeikko.fi/fi/lautapelit/2929-in-the-footsteps-of-darwin |
| Spielezar | 54.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/brettspiele/auf-den-wegen-von-darwin |
| Nexus | 8995 kr | https://nexus.is/vara/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin/ |

## Expansions

- [In the Footsteps of Darwin: Correspondence](https://www.ludoya.com/games/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin-correspondence-expansion)

## Similar games

- [Codex Naturalis](https://www.ludoya.com/games/codex-naturalis)
- [The Grand Carnival](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-grand-carnival)
- [Azul](https://www.ludoya.com/games/azul)
- [Remember Our Trip](https://www.ludoya.com/games/remember-our-trip)
- [Miyabi](https://www.ludoya.com/games/miyabi)
- [Fit to Print](https://www.ludoya.com/games/fit-to-print)
- [Bärenpark](https://www.ludoya.com/games/barenpark)
- [Race to the Raft](https://www.ludoya.com/games/race-to-the-raft)
- [The Isle of Cats Duel](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-isle-of-cats-duel)
- [Shallow Sea](https://www.ludoya.com/games/shallow-sea)
- [The Architects of Amytis](https://www.ludoya.com/games/les-architectes-damytis)
- [Gartenbau](https://www.ludoya.com/games/gartenbau)

## Rules questions

### If I study an animal and place it on top of a tile I already have, do I lose the covered tile's VP or icons?

When you stack a tile the covered tile remains but any VP value or publication icon on it is ignored; if you cover other icons (museum, crown, expedition) nothing happens — you do not have to return those elements. (page 10)

### When exactly do I move the Beagle and how many spaces does it move?

After you place a tile (animal or character) you move the Beagle forward along the arrows by the distance between the Beagle and the tile you selected (1–3 spaces). Using a Guide to Sail before your selection can move the Beagle one space back or forward first. (pages 8, 9)

### If I use a Guide to Probe, do I still take my normal Study action and does the Journey refill afterward?

Yes — Probe discards the three tiles facing the Beagle (putting them face down to the bottom of a draw pile) and replaces them, then you play your turn as usual (choose/place a tile), and after your placement you perform the Voyage refill (draw a new tile into the empty space). (pages 9, 8)

### When can I write a Publication, and can I write the same one twice by completing the same row/column again?

You write a Publication each time you first cover all four spaces of a given ecosystem or class (i.e., complete that row or column) by taking a Publication token; you cannot write a Publication again for the same ecosystem or class if you already completed it before. (page 10)

### Do Character tiles count toward my 12 tiles and how many characters can I take?

Yes — Character tiles are placed on your notebook like Animal tiles and count toward the 12 tiles; the game ends after each naturalist has placed exactly 12 tiles. You may not be inspired by more than 3 Characters. (pages 6, 8)

### How do Theories work when I stack animals, and can I have more than six Theories?

When you study (stack) an animal from a class and ecosystem you already studied, place it on top, resolve its bonus, then take a Theory from the display or a draw pile; you may not have more than 6 Theories — if you take a 7th you must return one of your choice to the bottom of a draw pile. Theories are scored at game end (see page 12). (pages 10, 12)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin)
- [In the Footsteps of Darwin in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/in-the-footsteps-of-darwin)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/376683)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._